1922-S VAM-1K

Description

Discovered by David Close, the 1922-S VAM-1K "Die Chip T" Peace dollar features a tiny die chip below the left crossbar of the first T in TRVST — the Latin-styled spelling of TRUST that Anthony de Francisci incorporated into his Peace dollar reverse design. Cataloged as 1K II 1 · B1a (Die Chip T) with die classification I-2 and rarity R-4 (approximately 131-300 known), this variety falls in the moderately scarce category that makes it collectible without being prohibitively rare. San Francisco produced approximately 17.48 million Peace dollars in 1922, the second year of the series and the first year the design appeared in its standard low-relief format after the high-relief debut of 1921. Die chips are small fragments of metal that break away from the working die surface, leaving a raised area on the struck coin that fills in what would otherwise be an incuse design element or field area. The specific location below the left crossbar of the first T in TRVST provides a precise diagnostic for attributing this variety, distinguishable from other 1922-S VAM varieties by the exact position and character of the chip. The Reverse B1a designation identifies a normal die of the B1 type, while the Obverse II 1 classification places the obverse within the standard die type for this date. David Close has contributed numerous Peace dollar VAM discoveries, particularly in identifying minor die defects and die state progressions that expand the catalog for well-studied dates.

External References